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My Thoughts on NXT (4/27/16): Death of a Drifter

Annnnd I'm late to the NXT review again. Sorry guys, I've been focusing on school a lot more lately with the semester almost over. But now, here are my thoughts on last week's NXT, still from WrestleMania Axxess.
  • Asuka vs Eva Marie-If it's any indication of how tired this crowd is after three full wrestling shows and preparing for a fourth, they can't even muster up enough energy to boo Eva Marie during her entrance. First off, let me just say that Corey Graves goes next level on commentary when Eva Marie comes out, it is so funny. The best part is when the crowd chants "You Can't Wrestle" at Eva, and he acts like its directed at Asuka. Incredibly, we get dualing "Let's Go Eva/Eva Sucks" chants. That's honestly something I never thought I'd hear. It would be like someone saying "Hey, look at this shark eating a cheeseburger", you just don't expect it to ever happen. After a few exchanges, Asuka takes control with a flying hip attack, followed by another one to send Eva to the outside. Nia Jax comes down to ringside before the commercial break. We get back with Eva in control, hitting one of the worst big boots in history. To clarify, Eva actually does hold the distinction of doing the worst big boot in history, but this was like the second worst. I honestly think Eva plays up how bad she is because in the little time she spent in the ring at WrestleMania, she did fine. She looked like she had a general idea of what she was doing. On NXT, however, she looks like she's never gone to wrestling school. It actually works for her character, since she's supposed to be someone who gets handed opportunities she doesn't deserve. She follows this up with a running senton for a two count. Eva locks in a rest hold for AGES before Asuka fights out and almost rolls up Eva with a backslide. Asuka starts to run wild, but Eva cuts her off with the laziest hair pull I've ever seen. Asuka avoids a senton by Eva and hits a sliding knee for a two count. Eva gets a boot up in the corner on a charging Asuka, but Asuka dodges a clothesline and hits the spin kick for the win. I really enjoyed this match, surprised Eva got so much offense in. The commentary from Graves and Tom Phillips is incredible, especially for Eva matches where the two work off each other so well. After the match, Asuka and Nia Jax have a staredown. Asuka goes for the spin kick, which Nia just moves out of the way for. The two stare each other down again before Nia helps Eva out of the ring.
  • The Revival vs Matt Lee & Jeff Parker-Jesus Christ, the Revival just murdered these two. Like, zero offense for Lee & Parker. They got in, destroyed them, and that was it. Matt Lee actually managed to get the crowd behind him and Parker by just being funny. I like him, I'd like to see more of him. After the match, Dawson says they are the reason for the tag team revolution, and they will get the Tag Team Championships back. Funny enough, right before the cut to commercial, Dawson holds up the Revival's t-shirt and yells "BUY OUR SHIRT!"
  • The Hype Bros vs Blake & Murphy-Sadly, no Alexa Bliss with Blake & Murphy, which means the only interesting part of the team isn't there. The crowd even asks "Where's Alexa?" Rawley and Blake start, and after Rawley jumps around the ring like a spas, he takes control. Ryder works over both Blake & Murphy and calls for the Broski Boot on Murphy, but Blake pulls him out of to the outside. The Hype Bros respond with a slingshot suicide baseball slide by Ryder. After Blake trips up Ryder, Murphy chop blocks Ryder's leg, allowing Blake & Murphy to work over Ryder. The heels work over Ryder until he makes the tag to Rawley, who runs wild on the heels. The Hype Bros hit the Hype Ryder for the win. Nothing match, just filler. After the match, The Revival beat down The Hype Bros.
  • Actually, before I go on, funny story from the NXT show I went to. They did this exact match (Blake & Murphy were the tag champs at the time) and Alexa was actually at ringside for this. This was back when nobody liked Mojo Rawley at all. Alexa actually hopped up on the ring apron to distract Rawley, who responded by grabbing her and kissing her. Not only did we boo him out of the building because
A. Mojo Rawley sucks
B. Alexa Bliss is awesome
and
C. Mojo Rawley sucks
But everyone started chanting, in unison, "Sexual Harassment." It was hilarious. Now back to NXT
  • Carmella vs Aliyah-Wooo, it's Jasmin Areebi! She used to wrestle in AIW here in Cleveland, so it's awesome seeing her in NXT now, facing "My Friends Went to the Main Roster Without Me" Carmella. The two lock up, with Carmella slickly flipping out of a snapmare and landing on her feet. Carmella hits an atomic drop to start off, but Aliyah quickly takes control, locking in a full nelson. Aliyah cuts off any comeback attempts by Carmella, hitting a crossbody into the corner followed by a middle rope leg drop. Carmella runs wild, hits a Bronco Buster, and locks in the modifeid head scissors for the submission win. Fine match, nothing special. 
  • Backstage, The Drifter gets interviewed. He says he's the Drifter and that Nakamura should never have drifted into NXT. F*ck this guy. He is the absolute worst.
  • Elias Samson vs Shinsuke Nakamura-I'm conflicted. I'd normally just say "f*ck the Drifter" for a Drifter match, but it's against Shinsuke Nakamura. I think I'm going to enjoy this one. Corey Graves just obliterates the Drifter on commentary, saying he knows a guy who could get him a job as a doorman after this match. No chill at all. Match kicks off with Nakamura working over Samson before Samson clotheslines him. Samson takes control, but Nakamura fights out and hits a spinning heel kick. Nakamura knees Samson to death, hits a inverted exploder suplex, and hits the Kinshasa for the win. F*ck the drifter, Shinsuke Nakamura's awesome, never change.
And that's about it. Overall, a good show, lots of good wrestling.
Thanks for reading. Be sure to share if you enjoyed.




Oh, and f*ck the Drifter


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